There are many reasons why the thyroid gland sometimes does not make enough thyroid hormones.

■ Autoimmune disease.

Our immune system protects our bodies from infections and can mistake thyroid gland cells for “dangerous invaders” and attack them. Then, there isn’t enough thyroid cells enzymes left to make thyroid hormone.

■ Surgery on the thyroid gland

Some people with thyroid nodules, thyroid cancer, or Graves’ disease need to have part or all of their thyroid removed. When the whole thyroid is removed, people
will have hypothyroidism.

■ Radiation treatment

■ Congenital hypothyroidism
A few babies are born without a thyroid or with only a partly formed one.
A few have part or all of their thyroid in the wrong place (ectopic thyroid).
In some babies, the thyroid cells or their enzymes don’t work right.

■ Thyroiditis

Thyroiditis is when the thyroid gland is inflated , usually caused by an autoimmune attack or by a viral infection.

■ Medicines

Some medicines ( amiodarone, lithium, interferon alpha, and interleukin-2 ) can interfere with normal thyroid gland activity.

■ Too much or too little iodine

The thyroid gland must have iodine to make thyroid hormone. Iodine comes into the body in food and travels through the blood to the thyroid.

■ Damage to the pituitary gland

The pituitary gland can be damaged by radiation, surgery or a tumor and it may not be able to “tell” the thyroid gland how much hormone to make.

■ Rare disorders

ex : amyloidosis,  sarcoidosis, hemochromatosis
Sometimes other diseases deposit abnormal substances in the thyroid and impair its ability to function

Post from: Thyroid Foods Blog | Information on nutrition for a healthy thyroid gland.

Causes Of Hypothyroidism

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